Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act of 2025

The Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act of 2025 would create and fund a federal grant program aimed at increasing the number of school-based mental health providers in high-need local educational agencies (LEAs). Eligible recipients include high-need LEAs, educational service agencies acting for those LEAs, or State educational agencies. Grants would be competitive, multi-year (up to 5 years, with renewals up to 2 years), and used to recruit, hire, retain, and diversify school-based mental health providers (including telehealth) to expand access for elementary and secondary students. The program emphasizes geographic diversity, requires non-federal matching funds, and includes reporting requirements to track progress and outcomes. The bill authorizes appropriations as needed for 2026–2030 and applies existing ESEA/FERPA/IDEA privacy and civil rights rules to grant recipients.